Multiple circuit control switch



Feb. 19, 1952 H, WAGNER 2,586,750

MULTIPLE CIRCUIT CONTROL SWITCH Filed May 18, 1950 INVENTOR,

HerberTC. wayner I HTTOR Y.

Patented Feb. 19, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT ()FFICE MULTIPLE CIRCUIT.CONTROL SWITCH Herbert E. Wagner, Los Angeles, Calif. Application May18, 1950, Serial No. 162,749 Claims. (01. 200-46) This invention relatesto mutiple circuit control switch, and more particularly to a circuitclosing push button by means of which a plurality of circuits can besuccessively closed for the purpose of controlling the operation ofelectrical- 1y operated machinery, and particularly for the control ofelectrically operated hoists.

Among the salient objects of the invention are:

Tflplbvide a-five step push button for a variable speed control, forexample, of a traveling crsnewith two buttons for the hoist motor havingfive steps up and five steps down; and two buttons for the trolley motorhaving five speeds right and five speeds left; and two buttons for hebrid e motor. w th five s eds orw rd d five speeds reverse; to providesuch a multiple circuit control which is practically indestructiblewhich is simple, practical and which has a long, trouble-free life.

In order to further explain the invention, I have shown one practicalembodiment thereof on the accompanying sheet of drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a push button unit embodying myinvention;

- Figure 2 is a plan view thereof, with a part n se t on;

Figure 3 is a longitudinal sectional view thereof, taken on line 3%3 ofFig. 1;

Figure dis across sectional view taken on the ne Itp la Figure 5 is across sectional view taken on 11 6545 of i 1;

Figure 6 is a fragmentary sectional view taken ne 6. Fi .2;

Figure 7 is a fiat or spread-out view of the body of the invention oshow the conductor strips in face view and in their relationship toeachother; and

Figure 3 is a plan view, with a, part in section,v 01 a modified form ofthe invention.

Referring, in detail to the drawings, my inven tiona ere shown forexplanatory purposes, includes cylindrical body I0, made of a very toughand durable fiber, with longitudinal slots II, II through said body,opposite each other, said body having a base plate I2, also of fiber,secured thereto by means of screws, as I3, and seen in Fig. 3.

0n said base plate I2, within said body I0, is a fiber lug I4, held inplace by means of a screw I5, as shown. A coiled spring I8 has its lowerend around said lug I4 and its upper end seated in an annular channel orgroove I'I formed in the lower end of a push button or plunger I8,

as clearly shown in Fig. 3. A through pin I9 of fiber material extendsthrough the lower end of said push button I8 and has its opposite endsextended through the opposite slots II, II, in

' said body I0, said through pin being secured in place by means of aset screw 20, in the lower end of said push button, whereby to move upand down in said slots II, II as said push button is pressed downagainst the tension of a coiled garter spring, and clearly seen in Figs.1 and 3'.

The opposite ends of said spring 23 are attached to a, taper pin 24,through the collector ring 2| and through the end of the fiber pin I9,as shown in Fig. 3.

Said bronze collector ring, at its opposite under sides, is providedwith two extension lugs, as 2I', to receive the opposite ends of thefiber pin I9. Thus said collector ring ZI, by reason of the fiber pinI9, is moved downwardly with the push button I8 whenever it is presseddownwardly against the tension of the spring I6, said pin- I9 moving inthe opposite slots II, II in the body ID, as shown.

On the outer surface of said body I0, spaced around said body, are shownsix brass conductor strips, designated I, 4, 3, 2, B and 5, as seen inthe flat view in Fig. 7. Said conductor strips are set in milled groovesformed in the outer surface of said. fiber body I0, and in the presentshowing are secured in place therein by means of a moisture proofcement, thus making a very smooth outer surface on said body III, forthe movement up and down of the collector ring 2|.

The lower ends of said conductor strips are provided with connectingscrews, as 25, to which the circuit wires (not shown) are connected. Thebronze collector ring 2I is provided around its body, under the garterspring 23, with a plurality of holes or openings 2.6, opening inwardly,in which are placed contact balls 21 to bear upon said collector stripssuccessively as the bronze collector ring is moved downwardly by meansof the push button or plunger I8, as before described.

In Fig. 8, I have shown a slightly modified form of the invention.Instead of the button, here designated I8, being provided with theannular groove around its outer face to receive the garter spring 23,said bronze conductor ring, here designated 2 l is provided with aplurality of separate hollow lug portions, as 28, 28, opening inwardly,and each having therein a coiled spring 29 and a contact ball 30, asshown in the sectioned portion of Fig. 8. Otherwise, said push buttonmechanism is the same in form and operation as that shown in Fig. 1.Said contact balls 21, or 30, as the case may be, are moved with thebronze collector ring 2|, or 2|", and come into yielding engagement withthe conductor strips on the outer surface of the unit body l0,successively as said collector ring is moved downwardly by means of saidpush button l8, whereby to successively complete the various circuits asrequired in the operation of the different machines, or of the hoistscontrolled thereby.

The operation of the mechanism will be clear from the showing thereof,in connection with the foregoing detailed description of the embodimentof the invention shown for such purpose, but I do not limit theinvention to the details of construction and arrangement shown forexplanatory purposes, except as I may be limited by the hereto appendedclaims.

I claim:

1. In a multiple circuit control unit; a tubular body of insulatingmaterial, a plurality of conductor strips of different lengths mountedin spaced relationship around the outer surface of said body, with meansfor connecting circuit wires therewith, a collector ring movable on saidbody, said collector ring having a plurality of contact balls yieldinglyheld therein to move therewith, and movable inwardly to contact saidconductor strips on the outside of said body, as said ring is movedthereon, a push button movable in said body and operatively connectedwith said collector ring for moving it on said body to put said balls incontact with said conductor strips, and spring means in said body forreturning said push button after it has been moved in one direction.

. 2. In a multiple circuit control unit: a tubular.

body of insulating material, a plurality of conductor strips ofdifferent lengths mounted in spaced parallel relationship around theouter surface of said body, with means for connecting a circuit wire toeach strip, a collector ring movably mounted on said body, and movablein a path parallel with said conductor strips, said collector ringhaving a plurality of contact balls seated in its inner side to be movedinto engagement with said conductor strips, with spring means yieldinglypressing said contact balls inwardly on said body, said balls beingpositioned in alinement with said conductor strips on the outer side ofsaid body, a'push button in said body, a through pin through said pushbutton and through said collector ring, whereby the movement of saidpush button moves said collector ring and its contact balls, said bodyhaving opposite slots in which said through pin moves, a spring in saidbody under said push button for returning it when it has been moved inone direction, and means for holding said spring in operative positionwith the inner end of said push button.

3. In a multiple circuit control unit, a tubular body of insulatingmaterial, a plurality of conductor strips of different lengths on theouter surface thereof, lengthwise thereof, and each having means forconnecting a circuit wire therewith, a collector ring around said bodyand movable thereon, said collector ring having a plurality of contactelements in its inner side to be moved into contact with said strips,spring means yieldingly moving each element inwardly, a'push button insaid body and having its inner end connected through said body with saidcollector ring, for moving said ring and said contact elements along andin engagement with said conductor strips, and spring means in said bodyoperating on said push button for returning it to its neutral positionafter it has been moved in an operation.

4. In a multiple circuit control unit, a tubular body, a series ofcontact and conductor strips of metal imbedded in the outer surface ofsaid body and flush with the outer surface thereof, with means forconnecting circuit wires to said conductor strips, a push button ofplunger form in said body, a spring operable on said push button toreturn it to its normal position when released,

a collector ring on said body, connections between said push button andsaid collector ring for moving them together along said body, springloaded contact elements in the inner face of said collector ring andpositioned to engage said conductor strips as said collector ring ismoved up and down on said body by said push button, said conductorstrips being of different lengths, and spaced around said body inparallel relationship with each other, said contact elements between thecollector ring and said conductor strips completing circuitstherebetween.

5. In a multiple circuit control unit oi the char-' acter referred towhich includes a hollow body of tubular form with longitudinal slots inits opposite sides, a collector ring on said body to be moved thereonlengthwise thereof, a plunger in said body having its inner endconnected through said opposite slots with said collector ringfor movingit, a series of conductor strips around the outer surface of said body,withinsaid'col lector ring, spring loaded contact elements car ried inthe inner face of said collector ring and positioned to engage saidconductor strips as said collector ring is moved thereon, means forconnecting circuit wires to said conductor strips, said body, plunger,and the connection between-the end of said plunger and said collectorring being of insulating material.

HERBERT nwaanaa.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS

